Iran Protests; Internet Shutdowns, No Landlines, & more

As protests against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s administration reached their twelfth day over inflation in Iran, at least 20 people were reported in the field in the last 24 hours. It brought the total death toll to 62. Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has called on US President Donald Trump to act immediately.

“Mr. President, we urgently need your assistance, attention, and action. Millions of courageous Iranian space defense ammunition industries last night. They are currently dealing with the complete communications outage in addition to configuring. No internet, no landlines,” Pahlavi tweeted on Friday.

His most recent comments follow Khamenei’s criticism of Trump in his first speech since the start of the protests.

What’s happening in Iran?

Almost all of Iran’s 31 provinces have seen wide spread protest since 28th December 2025. It was part of a deteriorting to economist crisis characterized by inflation, a falling rial, skyrocketing food prices, and going cost of living constraints.

What started out as protests by workers and retailers has grown to include students, bazaar vendors, and regular people, attracting crowds in over 100 locations. Protesters in many places are now demanding political reform and expressing growing resentment against Iran’s leadership in addition to economic alleviation.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 62 people have died, and over 2,270 others have been arrested as a result of the violence surrounding the protests.

Updates

• Despite an internet and international phone shutdown, protests have continued for the 11th day in a row.
• The human rights activist news agency reports that over 2300 individuals have been arrested, and at least 65 people have died.
• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly accused the protesters of working for foreign powers and stated that they must be dealt with. Iran’s judiciary chief has promised “maximum” punishment for those participating in the demonstrations. Huge crowds have marched in Tehran, Mashhad, and other major cities, chanting against the Islamic Republic.
• Iran has been warned by Donald Trump not to kill protesters because the US would retaliate if it did.
• According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Washington “supports the brave people of Iran.”
• Turkish carriers and Flydubai have cancelled flights to and from Iran.
• European leaders have called for moderation and denounced the alleged death of protestors.
• Demonstrators have been called “terrorists” by state media, sparking concerns about the significant crackdown.